[samdiegoCPA]

I just graduated a few weeks ago but have one remaining class I am taking now that ends July 5. Immediately after will be sending my transcripts to the CA state board. I am cutting it really close to be able to sit for my first exam end of August but have been in contact w/ the state board already who said to mail my transcripts in the second the grade is posted and it should all work out.

ANYWAY! I bought the Roger USB course and it came today. So, if I sit the last week of August, when should I begin studying? I don’t want to overstudy so that I am confusing stuff… I was thinking in 3 weeks begin. I am not working until January or so, so I have unlimited time.

Thanks for any help. I’ve been reading a bunch on this forum and looks like a good place to be for help and encouragement through this shitty process.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Anonymous]

Have you decided which section you will take first at the end of August? No matter which one, starting studying by the end of June is a good idea, ESPECIALLY if its any section other than AUD, which seems to be the least information, and what many people get by with the least amount of studying.

Even if you're not using Becker, I like the study schedule Becker sort of sets out…roughly 2 months studying for a section, then take your exam, then immediately start studying for the next section for 2 months, repeat. There gets to be an iffy overlap period when you're waiting for a score release and wondering if you should dive into new material while you wait, or assume the worst that you failed the exam you took and stay focused on that but I have no definite advice on that, and so far have just plowed ahead. I think I'll deal with any failed ones AFTER I've tried them all once. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Oh and also I cut it SUPER close with a last class I needed to sit in my state, and getting my NTS, and it went fine. Grades went up for the online class, requested transcript sent to NASBA that day (after having submitted all my information that WAS complete earlier that week), received my NTS in 10 days! You should be fine 🙂

[samdiegoCPA]

Oh sorry, I guess I should have stated that 🙂 Yes, I will sit for AUD first… just had my Auditing class in the Spring, so the info is fresh in my mind and can probably pass this one with no problem, but don't want to be overconfident because of that fact. I am a terrible studier as well, so cramming for 3-4 weeks would not work for me even with all my time I have.

I go to Europe for a month in Sept so studying will resume in October, sucks I can't knock out AUD and two more before the end of the year unless I really, really tried. We'll see how the first one goes, I guess! I have no excuse not to pass on my first tries, especially if people can do it working FT and with families!

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[littlenumberrobot]

In CA on my transcripts my degree had to have “conferred” on them. I went in to my college and paid extra to speed up the process, maybe it is not that way for you but I would check.

Good luck!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[samdiegoCPA]

I would definitely pay extra to have that! I'll contact my school about it. Thanks for the heads up

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[JakeO]

Overstudying can be a problem, but its not the length of time you study (from start date to exam date) but how much you study in one day. Instead of studying 8 hours a day for 3-4 weeks, its better to study for about 3 hours a day for 6-8, maybe 4 if you can spread them out between morning, afternoon, and evening. Studies constantly show that after only about 10-15 minutes of “studying” our brain practically shuts down, so we need to take frequent breaks in between our studying.

I think starting at the beginning of July would be a great time if you plan on sitting at the end of August.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[Anonymous]

I'm planning on taking AUD on Aug 31, but won't start studing for another week or two (I have a 25 page paper for my Master's class due in a few weeks, ugh)

I'm hoping that an 8-10 week study schedule will be sufficient…

[JakeO]

Most review courses/cpa resources, etc. suggest getting about 100 or so hours of high-quality study time in for each part of the exam, and maybe 120-130 for FAR simply because of the bulk of information. So if you study about 3 hours a day, which I think is a good number, you can complete all sections within 5 weeks and be ready for the test, about 6-7 for FAR.

If you go over this time limit, you tend to study things you do not know and by the time you learn those you have forgotten a bunch of information you used to know.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[samdiegoCPA]

I read the Pomodoro Technique website and think I should follow this. TV/San Diego weather gets the best of me sometimes 😉

I made an excel sheet of study times and have 23 hours a week planned out to study, so I'll start probably right after my final on July 5th (8am, whoever the devils are the scheduled this………… going to have a hard time with my partying the day before, ugh.)

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Author]

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